March – Stress
Stress. It is a part of our daily lives. While some stress is good, a good bit of our daily stress has a very negative impact on our health. Long-term stress raises the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, depression, and other health problems. Reducing stress can improve sleep, mood, energy, focus, relationships, and even help with weight control and muscle tension.
Where do you start? Everyone has different ways they prefer to manage their stress. Slow deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or a brief walk to calm the nervous system and lower stress hormones. Practices like yoga, stretching, or gentle movement combine physical activity with relaxation and are effective stress reliever These are considered body-based tools.
Mindfulness or meditation helps shift attention to the present and reduces rumination, worry, and emotional reactivity. Bringing mindfulness into your daily routine, helps you to navigate very stressful situations, with calm and ease.
Lifestyle tools also have a big impact on our stress. Regular sleep, a balanced diet, limited alcohol, physical activity, and time for hobbies and social connection all buffer stress.
If you are feeling stressed, see if you can incorporate several of these tools into your daily routine….and see what happens to your stress!